The doctor told about the reasons for the child's refusal to eat

A child often refuses to eat food due to age characteristics, hypersensitivity, reactions of an adult who is nearby, and anxiety. Ekaterina Shirshova, a nutritionist, told about this on June 8.

"A child can only agree to 3-4 products: pasta, bread, cheese, cottage cheese. He refuses everything new, asks for "like yesterday" and reacts to a change in the shape of a familiar dish. Many parents perceive this as a pathology. In fact, selectivity is not a disease," she said in an interview with the newspaper.Ru».

According to her, the child is repelled by new things in food.: texture, smell, temperature, and even the shape of the serving. Changes in the type of food can cause anxiety, especially in children with high sensory sensitivity and eating disorders.

The expert clarified that strong control, anxiety and increased attention to the topic of parents' food only increase the child's unwillingness to eat. For children, food is an element of stability, and anything new will be perceived as a violation of boundaries.

Shirshova noted that elements of adult pressure can also negatively affect food intake. Instead of using motivational phrases, parents should gradually introduce children to food.

"The product should not be immediately placed in the mouth. First it appears on the plate. Then you can touch it, smell it, observe it. Contact occurs gradually, at a pace that is comfortable for the child," the doctor said.

In addition, parents can use the "double plate" principle, in which they can place familiar food on one side and new food on the other. Adults can also tell children about food in a playful way, for example, imagine food as a character in a fairy tale.

She also reminded about the conditions under which the child will be able to accept a new meal. He should feel emotionally safe, and an adult should not control "every bite."

"The most important changes don't happen on a plate, but in a relationship. When an adult stops pushing, stops evaluating, and gives the child freedom within safe boundaries, appetite begins to recover. This is the key to developing healthy eating behavior," the expert added.

Fats in the city: why you need to reduce your diet in the summer

Experts have told us which soups and drinks make it easier to tolerate abnormal heat.

Evgenia Melnikova, a gastroenterologist at SM Clinic, told on June 3 that many people prefer to eat cold dishes instead of hot ones in the summer, which can harm the health of those with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In particular, this approach is harmful for people with diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis and cholecystitis.